Posted 29/8/09
Media Release
26 August 2009
Slater & Gordon will assist Port Campbell Community Group with the proposed Southern Ocean Beach House on Port Campbell’s fragile sea caverned headland. Mr Tout from Slater & Gordon has inspected the site and researched the effects of the development on the headland and any possible liability that may extend to the Corangamite Shire Council.
Corangamite Shire Council is the responsible authority who must assess and determine the validity of the geotechnical tests that the Southern Ocean Beach House must provide as part of the still outstanding permit conditions.
There has been widespread concerns regarding the geological impact of the Southern Ocean Beach House from environmental and heritage organisations and geotechnical specialists, including advice from the world famous geomorphologist Dr Eric Bird who wrote: “Geomorphological and geotechnical evidence therefore indicates that it is hazardous to build structures (particularly large buildings) near these cliffs and caverns because of the risk of damage resulting from their collapse, and of consequent injuries or deaths. There is the question of legal responsibility if such structures are permitted (geotechnical advice having been ignored), and a collapse then occurs”.
Geo-specialists have written the development’s overscale, deep excavation near the fragile cliffs and near 4 sea caverns may collapse the headland.
A Parliamentary Inquiry investigated the use and development of fragile Crown land for the Southern Ocean Beach House. The Select Committee findings also expressed concern at the significant impacts including ‘public safety impacts’.
The Government’s coastal policies notes to avoid development at the cliff edge due to the fragility of this section of coast and the outstanding scenic quality that requires special landscape protection http://www.vcc.vic.gov.au/landscape/type5.htm. An approx 10 meter deep excavation for a building covering 6000m2 does not appear to meet these requirements.
Corangamite Shire Council recently passed a permit for the Southern Ocean Beach House to subdivide the proposal for timeshare. The Department of Sustainability and Environment points out that the subdivision is ‘premature’ as conditions have not been met. DSE also states that the geotechnical condition “might require that the development be significantly altered from what is presently allowed under the planning permit 2004/144”.
The risks of an overscale excavation and building in this fragile area are clear. The Port Campbell Community Group has been concerned about past Council processes and hopes Corangamite Shire Council will take a precautionary approach in their assessment of any geotechnical report the Southern Ocean Beach House may provide.
Contact:
Marion Manifold
Secretary
Port Campbell Community Group Inc. A0051688U
Tel: 55 931 932
Email: mmanifold@ansonic.com.au